The effects of storage condition on the pharmacokinetics of paracetamol tablets were studied under several storage conditions. Three storage sites which were considered suboptimal were selected . Freshly purchased 1 000-tablets tins of paracetamol were bought and stored in each o these sites for not less than two months and were being dispensed . Prior to storage a few tablets from each tin were selected to serve as control. Kinetic studies were carried out with tablets obtained after two months of storage in these sites. A colorimetric method was used for plasma concentration d etermination and data analysed using student t test . p value less than 0 .05 was considered significant . Blood level data obtained from the studies were used to determine the pharmacokinetics of the drug. Plasma concentrations showed no statistical differences f rom two storage sites (p>0.05) . The time taken to attain peak plasma level (t ,.,J. was not statiscally affected in all the sites (p>0 .05) , but area under the curve from zero to infinity (AuC0 -) was statisticall y affected in t w o sites (p<0.05). However, there was bioequivalence from all the sites studied as the diff erence in their relative bioavailability were not more than 25%. This study has , therefore, shown that the suboptimum storage facilities as defined in the study have not adversely affected the plasma pharmacokinetics of paracetamol .

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In order to determine the prevalence of obesity among patients with diabetes from the Middle Belt region of Nigeria, a cross-sectional study of patients with diabet es attend ing University of llorin Teaching Hospital's diabetic clinic was carried out . Three hundred and fifteen patients were incl uded in the study. The age of the patients ranged from 23 to 80 years. Seventy-one percent of the patients were females and over 80% were above the age of 40years . 69.8%, 27% and 3.2% of the patient s had diabetes for less than 10years, 10 - 20 years and more than 20years, respectively. Only 17.5% of the patients were treated with insulin. Overweight (grade I obesity) and obesity (grade II obesity) were present in 71 .1 % of females and 55 .3% of , respectively. People on dietary management alone had significantly higher p<0.05 body mass index (BMI) value than those on oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHA) and those on insulin; none of the patients among those on insulin had grade II obesity. The mean BMI fell significantly as the duration of treatment increased : .40kg/ m2 for those under 5years and 17 .60kg/ m 2 for those over 20 years . conclusion , obesity is common in patients with diabetes mellitus in the middle belt region of Nigeria . Management procedures for such patients should involve weight reduction strategies .

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A 36-year-old womqp presented with a history of five previous abortions. No abnormality was detected on physical examination. She had hysterosalpingography. which showed bicornuate uterus. She was managed conservatively. This report discusses the presentation. diagnosis and management of bicornuate uterus with n review of the literature.

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A novel investigation was undertaken to determine CD4 T-lymphncyte profile of newly diagnosed lV-1 patients in Kaduna . centre. There · were (80) Eighty patients and (20) twenty controls. The studied HIV-1 patients were males (38) and females (42). Female more than males P<0.05 not st atistically significant. minimum CD4•T-lymphocyte count was 29. lymphocyte while the maximum was 438 D4•lymphocytes/ul . most common CD4+ count' among newly diagnosed HIV-1 patients ranges from 203-253 D4· T-lymphocyte/ul . The age range studied were 18 years 58 years. The highest age groups were 29-33 years (20) or 25% the least were 54-58 years (2) 2.5%. Nigerian age 18-58 years with CD4·T-lymphocyte/ul within the range 29-438 has a high index of H IV-1 infection suspect . The normal CD4·T-lymphocyte/ul for normal subjects in Kaduna centre ranges from 450-1870 T-lymphocyte/ ul

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This cross-sectional survey assessed the level of awareness and compliance of the women o childbearing age in a tertiary institution in Southwest Nigeria with the TT1-TT5 immunization schedule, a major strategy, introduced in 1989. for the global elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus. The study revealed that only 36 .3% of the respondents were aware of the schedule and only 35.8% have so far commenced the schedule. The higher educational level of the women surveyed not withstanding, was not positively associated (p > O.O) with their awareness or compliance of the TT1 - TT5 immunization schedule. However, the respondents' occupation/profession was found to be positively associated (p < 0.05). Only 10.4% of the respondents have received at least two doses o the tetanus toxoid (TT2+) immunization which,fallfar below the recommended 80% or more needed to achieve and maintain neonatal tetanus (NT) elimination. Some reasons given by the respond ents for non-compliance were lack of information on the need for the schedule, lack of organized campaign to make it mandatory and non-availability of the TT vaccine in the health centres during respondents' visits. The study concluded that there is a ' wide gap b tween policy formulation for the TT1-TT5 schedule and the actual practice among a relatively educated population of women of childbearing age surveyed. Recommendations are given as to how the awareness and compliance can be increased among the target population

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Currently, the risk of acquiring hepatitis B and C infection among healthcare personnel is high . A cross ­ sectional stud y of 399 health personnel was conducted in governmental healthcare settings of the southern region of Gaza Strip from February 2003 to August 2003.The results revealed that, the prevalence of HBsAg was .8% among health workers and 1 .3% for anti-HCV. 18.7% of the reactive cases ( HBV and HCV) showned vation in the liver enzyme-'.4LT. Viral hepatitis B- markers for all HBsAg reactive cases were d one . Needle stick injuries showed a highly significant association as a main risk factor for infection. The results confirmed that hepatitis B vaccination wqs able to prevent the most threatening consequences of H BV infection , as the rate of infection among non-vaccinated health workers was approximately greater than twice ( 4 .1%) that of vaccinated participants (2.0% ) . hermore , amongst those who had less than three doses regimen of vaccine , the rate of infection was her (3.9%) than those who had received the three doses (1.5%). conclusion, all healthcare workers should be o.fferedfull HBV coverage vaccination .ln addition there is a need to better determination of the risk for HBV and HCV transmission in selected settings .

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In a period of twelve years (1" January 1990 to31" December 2001) , one thousand, two hundred and twenty five (1225) autopsies were performed in the Anatomical Pathology department of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital , (VPTH) Port Harcourt . Of this number, thirty eight (38) 3.1% were due to ruptured ectopic pregnancy. of the deaths 27(71.0%) occurred from cases brought from the rural areas of the state while 11 (29 .0% ) were from the urban area of the Port Harcourt metropolis. Age group 20-30 years was the most vulnerable . With regards to parity, those of 1 and 2 were mostly affected and the major clinical presentations were lower abdominal pains,fainting/dizziness and amenorrhoea 31 (81.6%). investigation and autopsy should be mandatory in all cases of "mysterious" deaths in women of reproductive age. In addition, health care deliveries should be extended to the rural dwellers as it is in the urban centres.

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The seropositivity for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was tested in 68 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to assess the association between hepatitis B virus and hepatocellular carcinoma. Of the 68 patients, 44(64.7%) were positive for HBsAg. The highest prevelance rate (76.2%) was found in the 40 - 90 years age group , and the highest incidence of HCC was also found in the same age group . The patients were predominantly males (M:F;2:1). There was, however, no significant difference in the prevalence rates of HBsAg between male and female HCC patients. This study confirms that hepatitis B virus is associated with most cases of HCC in our environment.

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